Fern spores?

I'd like to grow some ferns but would like to grow them from spores. I'd especially like to grow the Japanese Painted Fern. When I look online I seem to find the ferns themselves, rather than their spores. Has anyone any idea where in the UK I could buy fern spores rather than the plants?

 

Fern Spore Sowing.

The first, second and third essential is sterility of every part of the growing system (except perhaps the grower!).
This is the method I used and it worked for me, no doubt others will have their own system.
1.I use new plastic 7cm. plant pots and sterilise them by immersing them in boiling water for about a minute. (Test one first to make sure it does not lose shape. Otherwise you must cold sterilise with a mild bleach solution.
2. Any seed sowing compost is OK. Fill dry, cool pots to about an 1 cm below the top and firm down gently. Cover the top with a piece of kitchen towel or coffee filter paper. Pour boiling water through the paper. About a cupful will do.
3. Cover the pots and allow to cool. No further watering is necessary. Remove filter paper.
4. When cool sprinkle fern spores on the surface. Each pot will be big enough for about as many spores as you can fit on the tip of a penknife. They are very tiny and really do need to be spread thinly on the surface or they will not have room to develop. DO NOT DO THIS IN A WINDY SPOT! or sneeze.
5. Place pot in a plastic bag and seal. I use sandwich bags and the paper ties which come with the roll.
6. Place in a warm (unless they are hot house ferns, in which case they need more heat) light position. A north facing or shady window ledge or in the greenhouse but put some shade netting over the top.
7.Eventually the surface of the pot will become covered in what looks like moss (if it is going to work). Open the bag and spray the surface of the 'moss' with distilled water( take the chill off it). Close the bag and put back in a warm, light area and wait.
8. If you have been successful, before long the moss will change to baby ferns. Gradually acclimatise them to growing outside the plastic bag.
9. Prick out the babies, I usually do this in little groups, you can always do it again when they are bigger.

 

Maybe it depends on the variety of fern.
I introduced ferns to my last garden - several kinds - and lived to regret it.
The spores germinated everywhere - in the cracks in the paths, the rock garden, the dry stone walls, inside the greenhouse, under the shrubs, among the plants, just everywhere. They were impossible to take out and weed killer didn't do much good. The worst weed I ever had. Never again !

 

I could send you spores of Jamaican ferns, free of cost, if you have spores or seeds to offer to me, which interest me. Interested?

 

I'm not sure if Importing/exporting seeds/spores from overseas is legal,
it might be worth checking before you start.

Pete

 

Thank you very much for the offer but I think I'll leave it. I'm specifically looking for Japanese painted fern spores. I'm not sure of rules about sending overseas either; didn't think of that :cnfs: You're not missing out on much anyway; I have no spores and the seed packets that I do have are very common, mainly found in Wilkinsons :hehe:

 

Not here in Jamaica. Plant shops are deserts, if you look for anything special I am really desperate to get seeds or spores of interesting plants though I can offer amazing plant seeds and spore (those which I have already).

 

I found an interesting video on the subject of propagation from spore:
growing ferns from spore - YouTube

 

Hi Jw , I was posting a similar Threat no long ago , but no replay from anyone....propagating fern spore would be a nice project to start now , for the simple reason that it would take 3/4 months before you can see any......
I have about 6 different fern in my garden including japanese painted fern and dicksonia antartica, but the problem is that you can only collect spores from September up to November , I didn`t so I have to wait for next year , the japanese fern die down in winter ....plus on the other side ....it dasn`t look like , but many fern are really slow grower......will it really worth ?

 

Hi Sal,

Matey boy in the video is selling the kits with the spore.

Fern Factory - Fern Factory offers a wide variety of ferns and tropical plants

 

Thanks for the useful reference, Ziggy! The site seems worth exploring.

I will obtain my supplies from here: Ferns Hardy Species Mixed Seeds £4.15 from Chiltern Seeds - Chiltern Seeds secure online shop

 

Thank you Ziggy
I would love 3/4 more in my collection but the one I`m after will take decade to grow to that size from spore...I will keep hunting for some good offer .
I was thinking to grow some Dicksonia antartica , but them a friend told me of a sale an got a 5 feet for £45 it would have took at least 40 years to reach that size in UK....all the one I`ve got are coming from the Russian tundra....manage to collect few 3 years ago , there are many nice one in UK as well .

It das really look as big in the picture , but the greenhouse on the left is 8 feet high.

 

Angelina, you can get spores from any fern leaves , just let it dry inside a white paper ......plus in summer time if you walk around any woods you will surprised but how many nice native fern you can find in the wild.

 

No worries Angelina, you gave the link in the first instance:D

I like the Chiltern Seed Catalogue, nice soft paper

Did you know you can buy Dandelion Seeds from them?

 

Chilterns - call that a Dandelion



Now that's a Dandelion.